Pittsburgh (AP)-Unlike Pittsburgh Pirates after the anger of the late Roberto Clemente’s family by removing the privilege icon on the right field wall in PNC Park.
The brand named Clemente and its number 21. It was replaced by Surfside, an alcoholic drink.
However, Clementi’s brand will be restored before Monday night against St. Louis Cardinal, according to Pirate President Travis Williams.
Williams took over the controversy on Sunday.
“We did not intend to respect the legacy of Roberto Clemente by adding the advertisement to the painting in the right field,” Williams said in a statement. “When we added the advertisement to the painting, it was to oversee the lack of preservation of logo No. 21. This is on the end, and not anyone else in the organization. It was a sincere mistake.
“We want to make sure that the Clemente family understands that we do not intend to do not respect for their father. We look forward to continuing our relationship with the Clemente family and apologizing to them and our grapes for our sincere mistake.”
The right field wall in PNC Park is 21 feet in honor of Clemenete.
Pirates said in a statement that the mark that was on the wall since 2022 was supposed to be temporary decorations. However, Roberto Clemente Junior expressed misery on Sunday in a statement.
“This change was made without any contact or consultation with our family,” the statement said. While we appreciate that the pirates acknowledged their failure to inform us, it reveals a broader issue: the lack of meaningful cooperation between the organization and the deep and historical personal issues for us and the fans.
“The flow of support from the fans in Pittsburg and all over the country was overwhelming and deeply respected. It is clear that our father’s legacy is still inspiring and uniting people, not only for his achievements in the field, but for the sake of the integrity and mercy he has shown.”
Clemente spent his entire career with pirates from 1955-1972. He played in 15 All-Star stars, while winning 12 Gold Glove Awards, four beating titles and MVP in the 1966 National League.
Clemente died in a plane crash off the San Juan coast in his hometown of Puerto Rico on New Year’s Eve in 1972 while trying to provide supplies to Nicaragua, which was transferred to the earthquake. He was recruited in the celebrity hall the following summer.